Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[mathers_wales_uk]

I can get a relatively cheaper package self made using booking.com and flying with easyJet.

The point was that actually CWL came up cheaper than LGW and BRS according to both travel agents.

 

[Jerry]

Easyjet are not always the cheaper option, Cardiff can often be cheaper than other airports but i think the key thing is many people don't believe it is and don't look at it as an option.

 

[superking]

Easyjet are not always the cheaper option, Cardiff can often be cheaper than other airports but i think the key thing is many people don't believe it is and don't look at it as an option.

You are right Jerry about prices,but on the other hand you have to have a service to which ever destination is offered with cheaper prices.

 

[Jerry]

You are right Jerry about prices,but on the other hand you have to have a service to which ever destination is offered with cheaper prices.

And growing the route network is one of the things CWL is working on and achieving.

 

[Jerry]

I've just read most of the Business Wales briefing pack that was sent to me by one of the Fly2Cardiff team so thought i'd add to this post i did a while back the additions are in red.
At the end of the business briefing for business Wales there was a summary of achievements for 2017 so i'll summarise them here.
2017 summary of achievements

Growth has been achieved by
Developing year round services
Increasing leisure route capacity on key routes
Developing bespoke markets
Heavy focus on in bound to Wales

The busiest year in 8 years
48% growth in 3 years

Tourism to Wales is growing

German routes now 40% originating from overseas
Irish routes now 50% Irish origin
KLM 60% originating from overseas markets
Italian routes grown to 25% originating from Italy
Paris route currently 47% French origin

2018 Expecting double digit growth

Inbound tourism growth will come from
Flybe-3rd based aircraft, extra frequencies and a new route
KLM-20% capacity increase because of larger aircraft
Qatar Airways-New global hub service

Top inbound routes this year will be
Amsterdam hub- KLM
Doha hub- Qatar Airways
Dublin-Flybe
Munich-Flybe
Milan-Flybe
Paris-Flybe
Madrid-Iberia
Barcelona-Vueling
Jersey-Flybe

Over 50 direct routes
18 airlines
11 Hub routes

https://twitter.com/JeremyBrookman2/status/989521933833293824

And apparently the 25 year Master Plan will be released in the summer.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Which is the busiest day of the week for CWL this Summer Jerry, probably a Monday or Tuesday? With Norwegian etc etc.

 

[Jerry]

Which is the busiest day of the week for CWL this Summer Jerry, probably a Monday or Tuesday? With Norwegian etc etc.

I'm pretty sure it's Tuesday.

 

[Jerry]

This is how many departures that each airline will operate on the individual days of the week during summer 18 peak.
Monday
Flybe-12 departures
Eastern Airways-4 departures
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Ryanair-1 departure
Thomas Cook-2 departures
TUI-5 departures
Freebird-1 departure
KLM-3 departures
Vueling-2 departures
Total 31 departures
Tuesday
Flybe-10 departures
Blue Islands-1 departure
Eastern Airways-4 departures
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Thomas Cook-2 departures
TUI-5 departures
Norwegian Air-1 departure
Eurowings-1 departure
KLM-3 departures
Vueling-4 departures
Total 32 departures
Wednesday
Flybe-11 departures
Eastern Airways-4 departures
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Thomas Cook 2 departures
TUI-4 departures
KLM-3 departures
Vueling-3 departures
Total 28 departures
Thursday
Flybe-12 departures
Eastern Airways-4 departures
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Iberia Express-1 departure
Ryanair-1 departure
BH Air-1 departure
Thomas Cook-2 departures
TUI-4 departures
KLM-3 departures
Vueling-4 departures
Total 33 departures
Friday
Flybe-13 departures
Eastern Airways-3 departures
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Ryanair-1 departure
Thomas Cook-3 departures
Freebird-1 departure
TUI-5 departures
KLM-3 departures
Total 30 departures
Saturday
Flybe-9 departures
Blue Islands-1 departure
Qatar Airways-1 departure
Thomas Cook-3 departures
TUI-5 departures
KLM-3 departures
Vueling-3 departures
Total 25 departures
Sunday
Flybe-11 departures
Eastern Airways-1 departure
Iberia Express-1 departure
Qatar Airways-1 departure
BH Air-1 departure
Thomas Cook-2 departures
TUI-4 departures
KLM-2 departures
Vueling-2 departures
Total 25 departures.

Weekly total 204 departures.

 

[Jerry]

Which is the busiest day of the week for CWL this Summer Jerry, probably a Monday or Tuesday? With Norwegian etc etc.

I was wrong suprisingly it's Thursday.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

It used to be Tuesday however only be one or two departures.

What didn't help was on Tuesday there used to be a number of arrival/departures the same time around lunch.

Saturday mornings used to also be extremely busy around lunch time.

 

[Jerry]

Winter Dreamliner flights
During the winter with Qatar and TUI operating widebodies i thought i'd have a look at the dates Cardiff will get 2 widebody flights whether departing or arriving.
Friday 16th November, Saturday 1st December, Tuesday 4th December, Saturday 8th December, Monday 24th December, Friday 11th January, Tuesday 15th January, Saturday 26th January, Saturday 16th February, Tuesday 19th February, Monday 18th March and Monday 29th April.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Are there times when both could potentially be on the ground at the same time?

 

[Jerry]

Are there times when both could potentially be on the ground at the same time?

Unless there is a delay of any of the flights i doubt it. Most of the TUI flights tend to depart between 10 am and midday and their returns are around 5 am.

 

[CWL94]

I noticed today's BE flight to FAO boarded from Gate 3 today. This was around the time when QR was parked. I thought stand 3 was out of action when QR was on stand 7. Unless they used Gate 3 as a bus gate and the aircraft was parked on remote stands 15/16/17?

 

[Jerry]

I noticed today's BE flight to FAO boarded from Gate 3 today. This was around the time when QR was parked. I thought stand 3 was out of action when QR was on stand 7. Unless they used Gate 3 as a bus gate and the aircraft was parked on remote stands 15/16/17?

They could also use it for 8R maybe? Or stand 1?

 

[Jerry]

With the news last week that the airport had got back to the 1.5 million passenger mark for the rolling year, i decided to have a look at the changes that has happended since the airport has been taken over by the Welsh Government.
Domestic routes and Ireland
Domestic routes in May 2013 were, Aberdeen, Anglesey, Belfast City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Newcastle and Dublin.
In May 2018 those routes above are still operating plus Cork and Guernsey.
European routes
European routes in May 2013 were Larnaca, Paphos, Paris CDG, Dusseldorf, Corfu, Heraklion, Keffalinia, Kos, Rhodes, Zankinthos, Malta, Amsterdam, Faro, Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Mahon, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Reus, Arrecife, Fuertenventura, Las Palmas, Tenerife South and Burgas.
In May 2018 those routes remain apart from Malta and Fuertenventura. New routes that have been added are Rome, Venice, Verona, Milan, Berlin, Munich and Madrid (resumes in June).
Turkey, Africa and Long haul
Routes in May 2013 were Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Sharm el Sheikh and Enfidha.
In May 2018 only Antalya and Dalaman remain but Doha is a new route.
Airlines operating from the airport
May 2013
Thomas Cook, Thomson, KLM, Flybe, Aer Lingus Regional, Lufthansa Regional, Vueling, Eastern Airways, Citywing, Air Malta and BH Air.
May 2018
Thomas Cook, TUI (formerly Thomson), KLM, Flybe, Vueling, Ryanair, Eastern Airways, BH Air, Blue Islands and Qatar Airways.
Aer Lingus, Lufthansa Regional, Citywing and Air Malta have all gone but Ryanair, Blue Islands and Qatar Airways have been gained.
Terminal infrastructure
Although the general size of the terminal building itself hasn't changed the internal layout has. The main changes that in know about are in the departure area. The duty free is now a walk through area after security which i believe is bigger now, the departure lounge has been expanded with a new area to the left and an expanded WH Smith with a new Costa Coffee outlet as well as a new pub style outlet called the Beer House. Airside new stands have been created along with a new airbridge installed and the airport invested in new fire engines.
Other improvements include a new meet and greet car parking service and a new hire car centre.

The airport has improved alot in the last 5 years with new routes and internal revamps and has a 50.7% increase in passenger numbers over those years. Still lots more to do for the future!

 

[Jerry]

Does anyone know if Swissport work for the airlines or the airport at Cardiff?

 

[superking]

Does anyone know if Swissport work for the airlines or the airport at Cardiff?

Usualy its agents work for airlines.A lot of airlines do self handleing so airlines can keep abreast of how things go.

 

[Jerry]

Usualy its agents work for airlines.A lot of airlines do self handleing so airlines can keep abreast of how things go.

I was wondering if it was different with Cardiff because it's a smaller airport and they are the only handlers there.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

There used to be two handlers. (Servisair & Aviance). Due to the downturn in the market Servisair announced that it was withdrawing from CWL.

Aviance took the airlines and staff but within 12 months Servisair bought Aviance.

Within a couple of years Swissport bought Servisair who remain to this day.

Handlers work for the airlines and contracts renew on an annual basis so there is a possibility as Cardiff grows a new handling agent may arrive and take some of the contracts.